livingasean, Author at LIVING ASEAN - Inspiring Tropical Lifestyle //

Nong Ho Holiday Home: Tranquility in the Midst of Nature

By livingasean
November 5, 2021
HOUSE,LIVING

/ Chiang Mai, Thailand /

/ Story: Sarayut Sreetip-ard / English version: Bob Pitakwong /

/ Photographs: DOF Sky/Ground, architectural film and photography service /

Nong Ho Holiday Home is a gorgeous tropical home out in the country. An escape from the fast-paced city life, the tranquil abode is intended as a family holiday home during the winter months.

The house stands environed by the pleasant mountain base grounds at Nong Ho, only a short drive from downtown Chiang Mai. Strictly speaking, green is the prime color of the surroundings, and the panorama of the mountain landscape is one of breathtaking beauty. Priceless!

Commenting on the design concept, Skarn Chaiyawat, architect and founder of his architectural firm and namesake, said:

“The 300-square-wah, rectangular site on which the house is built is exceptionally good. In the evening, lights blaze in the sky as the sun disappears over Doi Suthep that’s easily seen from a distance. It’s really a beautiful sight to see.”

It’s a piece of land with great potential, so the main idea driving the design isn’t confined to the house alone. Rather it’s a layout that has the beauty of the natural environment at its core.

On the ground floor, open plan ideas come in handy, covering a large area from the sitting room to the dining room and pantry, plus a Thai-style kitchen at the further end of the interior.

“After careful consideration, I chose the I-shaped house plan. The longer side of the rectangle overlooking the backyard lies facing west, thereby opening every room to the scenic beauty of a mountain landscape,” the architect explained.

The architect and the homeowners agreed that, to avoid looking harsh or too modern in appearance, it makes perfect sense to blend modern building materials with heritage products in the locality.

The result is a modern vernacular home that boasts the richness of natural textures.

It’s built of reclaimed teakwood from old houses in the area and roofed over with clay tiles made the old-fashioned way by local artisans. House floors and parts of the walls are covered in glazed clay tiles made by Mae Rim Ceramics in Chiang Mai.

All told, it’s a beautifully semi-handcrafted home that’s original and unique in its own special way. Plus, it helps reduce impacts on the environment.

The more open the house plan, the more exposure it gets to sunlight and moisture.

Here, the problem is corrected by constructing elegantly extended eaves around the house. Where appropriate, several arrays of retro-inspired bamboo louvres protect the house from the elements, meanwhile providing a delicate aperture to the delightful view.

Together they reduce the heat, allow in gentle breezes along the east and west facades, and offer the benefit of adding decorative privacy screens to the home.

Here’s what we found. A good home isn’t made for comfortable living alone. It must also be capable of promoting good physical and mental health.

Although it has a street frontage, the family’s right to privacy is jealously guarded. There’s a backyard swimming pool for exercise. Looking out the window, a spectacular mountain view can be seen from a distance.

There’s plenty of room left to grow a vegetable garden, too. In essence, it’s a way of creating an ecology of nature-human interactions.

The architect wrapped it up nicely: “Even while indoors we can hear birds sing and gentle breezes rustle in the trees, plus the sweet smell of plants and rain in the yard.

“No need to turn on air conditioning all the time. It’s a beautiful natural setting that brings peace of mind. For us, it’s a great definition of a holiday home.”

Architect: Skarn Chaiyawat Architects (www.skarnchaiyawat.com)

Skarn Chaiyawat, Krit Chatikavanij, Phuwadol Khummali, Punika Chaiyawat

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Treehouse C: Stunning Treehouse Design Unveiled

By livingasean
October 5, 2021
HOUSE,LIVING

/ Bali, Indonesia /

/ Story: Phattaraphon / English version: Bob Pitakwong /

/ Photographs: Arley Mardo /

Looking for cool treehouse ideas? Here’s one beautifully crafted of wood – a revolutionary design that epitomizes the ultimate return to nature.

After four months in the making, the building design company Stilt Studios recently unveiled the latest prototype of its treehouse series that was truly awesome. Known as “Treehouse C”, the home rises among the treetops in the salubrious weather of Penestanan, a cozy Indonesian village just a stone’s throw from Ubud town in central Bali.

Noted for its beauty and the richness of culture, Penestanan has been dubbed an artist village since the 1930’s. A 15-minute walk from the town center, the village is home to many go-to restaurants and bars sprouting up everywhere amid the green expanse of rice fields. Treehouse C itself sits high up in the leafy branches in a small community called Bukit Sari.

Strictly speaking, the home is raised high off the ground by a robust core element consisting of four vertical columns. Together they carry the weight of the entire dwelling. For strength and durability, the upright pillars are braced by a staircase and post-to-beam knee brackets for additional support.

On the rooftop, a steel cable stay system extends radially from the top of each mast anchorage to connect with the roof framework and the floor plane below, resulting in a reduction of member cross-sections and structural frames for the whole building.

From a distance, it gives the impression that the house is hovering among the lush green treetops, a sight that can leave a memorable experience. Plus, its surprisingly lightweight appearance is further enhanced by slender façades decorated with wood frames and glass paneling designed to carry nothing else but its own weight.

The latest edition of Treehouse C differs from previous C models built at Buduk village, published in October 2020, in that the original layout has been updated, changing from an open floor plan to one divided into several rooms. They include a kitchen with dining room and nearby sitting area, plus a spacious bedroom with cozy nook ideas interconnected via the bathroom corridor. The 64-square-meter design is for 2 to 4 people to fit in easily.

More so than anything else, it offers a panorama of the surrounding landscape and amazing sunrise views from Mount Agung, a famous volcano and the highest point in Bali.

As may be expected, the front yard is filled with edible gardens designed and executed by True Nature Nusantara, a Bali-based landscape consultancy specializing in natural regenerative processes.

Commenting on the role of permaculture in creating sustainable ecosystems, Bodhi Denton, the company’s director, said: “The goal of developing these gardens is to create a delightful labyrinth of low-maintenance and colorful perennials and trees like they exist in the wild, plus a laid-back, inconspicuous area to sit and enjoy the view of nearby rice fields.”

It’s for this reason that the gardens are full of flowers and ornamental plants indigenous to the Tropics plus fruits and herbs. It even has a small pond used for watering plants. Besides its famous Tetra Pod homes, the building design company also offers technical drawings of Treehouse models A, B, and C for purchase.

In three simple steps, you can get access to the drawings and license to build your dream house among the trees. Visit the company’s website for more details.

Architectural Design: Stilt Studios
Landscape Consultancy: True Nature Nusantara

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A Minimalist House with the Elegance of Wood and Great Greenery Outdoors

By livingasean
September 26, 2021
HOUSE,LIVING

/ Bangkok, Thailand /

/ Story: Patsiri / English version: Bob Pitakwong /

/ Photographs: Soopakorn Srisakul / Styling: Worawat /

Here’s a warm wood house that’s an embodiment of superb craftsmanship in the indoors and cool refreshing greenery outdoors. Precisely, it is the simple design with the deliberate use of texture and clean lines that gives it a sense of youthful exuberance — a minimalist home that blends perfectly with nature.

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Khagee Ketjumpol, the homeowner, said he bought this house about ten years ago having been attracted to an orange jasmine tree (Murraya paniculata) gracing the front yard. After that, he decided to restore it to a good state of repair that was more up to date in style.

It was a home makeover project designed for better living conditions of everyone in the family. A professional builder with more than 30 years of experience, Khagee knew exactly what he wanted to do and how.

The result was a complete renovation that struck the right balance between comfort and a distinctive appearance with the great greenery outdoors.

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The remodeled house plan offers three stories of living spaces with an abundance of natural light canopied by overhanging trees.

The homeowner couple live on the top floor that’s decorated penthouse style, while their daughter occupies the second. The ground floor consists of common areas designed to encourage social interaction and spaces for a range of activities, including home to three pet dogs.

Outside, a Siamese rosewood tree (Dalbergia cochinchinensis) standing three stories tall among the greenery outdoors adds a peaceful detail to the front yard.

To establish the ideal room temperature for comfortable living, tall-growing trees are preserved and integrated into the house plan and landscape design.

Where appropriate, parts of the ground floor are left unfilled and overhead windows are created to allow the upper branching of trees to thrive.

The result is a spacious, well-lit, and well-ventilated home built around shade trees that provide sun protection all year long.

As Khagee puts it:

“I like plants for they offer shelter from direct sunlight, increase oxygen, and filter dust that poses a serious threat to environmental quality, plus they help keep the house cool. In line with the minimalist style, open floor plans create a living space that’s pleasant to look at and easy to keep clean.”

The family’s love of nature and everything about wood is clearly seen in home interior design. Much of it is made of reclaimed timber that once served a different function.

Here, Khagee was able to recycle used items from his collection to fit new needs as floor panels, wall coverings, even ceiling planks.

Where possible, steel framing and glass panels are also used.

“I like the touch of wood. Throughout my career as builder, I have collected many used building materials and reclaimed wood.

“Much of it that went into renovating this home was more than 30 years old and imported from Laos. To me, house building is an investment, much like buying land or gold.

“This way, we’ve come to appreciate the value of wood. It’s the natural vibes of wood that bring positive energy into our home,” said Khagee.

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A few pieces of house furniture are used on an as-needed basis true to the idea of minimalism.

For a spacious interior, even large pieces like the bed and the sofa are made of steel framing that gives them a lightweight look. Because of this, they appear to hover just above the floor.

The light and airy atmosphere is further enhanced by recessed lighting, a nice little collab between the homeowner and a team of architects from the Unknown Surface Studio.

After many years of building houses for other people, the time is ripe for Khagee to make one for himself and his family.

Not only is it a dream come true, but it’s also a beautiful wooden home ensconced by greenery outdoors.

It’s no surprise that he aptly calls it “Little Paradise”, a home made for the happiness of his loved ones.

Owner/Architect: Khagee Ketjumpol

Lighting design: Unknown Surface Studio

Urban Courtyard House for an Extended Family

By livingasean
August 29, 2021
HOUSE,LIVING

/ Bangkok, Thailand /

/ Story: Sarayut / English version: Bob Pitakwong /

/ Photographs: Ritthirong /

Let’s say you’re looking for a modern courtyard house plan to get inspired. Here’s one nestled in the heart of Bangkok’s downtown that’s built to accommodate three generations living in one household. Thoughtfully designed, it’s capable of answering the family’s lifestyle needs, plus it’s easy to maintain thanks to an uncomplicated layout. What looks opaque from the outside is compensated by a bright and airy center courtyard that’s the heart of family life. Its story is inscribed as part of the building’s decorative features.

When a design team from the Atelier of Architects Co., Ltd. was tasked with creating a new home for eight people including not just parents and their children, but also grandparents, the first things they thought of were safety features, comfortable living spaces, privacy protection, and a peaceful environment for all family members. Yes. That’s exactly what they had in mind.

The two-story, six-bedroom house plan may seem a bit crowded for 130 square wa of land (520 sq. m.), but the overall effect is delightful. It’s neatly planned to ensure the proper space utilization; every available space is used in an effective way.

Homeowner Salyawate Prasertwitayakarn, himself an architect, put it this way:

“If the house was positioned at the center as is usually the case, then there wouldn’t be any room left for a yard, let alone a small piece of ground for trees.

“The house is adjacent to vacant lots that will see large construction projects coming up before long. So the only way forward is to build a U-shaped courtyard home enclosed by the solid external envelope. The center courtyard has a view of the apartment building that’s the family’s business.

“Although the courtyard lies facing west, it’s protected from the sun and heat by the adjacent five-story apartment building. The result is a cool, small outdoor room for little children to run and play.

“To protect family privacy, vertical concrete fins and a full array of plantation blinds are installed along the façade facing the apartment building.”

Taken as a whole, it’s simple clean design that gives this new courtyard house its character.

Among other things, its distinctive features include an array of transom windows that add more natural light to the home. Its modern and fresh interior with shades of gray bespeaks a clean, clear and uncluttered layout, while exposed brick walls add timeless elegance to the peaceful ambience.

The patio adjoining the house is covered in gray pea gravel that’s comfortable underfoot and easy to maintain. It’s a simple hardscaping material that expresses rich and subtle meanings. On this matter, Salyawate explained:

“I want to get the message across, something that internalizes values and what’s important in life for everyone in the family.

“The meaning of life is expressed through the work of art executed directly on the brick wall by the entryway. It takes the form of the Thai letter “p” that’s the initial of the family’s three sons — Pahda, Pheem, and Pinyada.

“Precisely, it’s a reminder that this place is made for them.”

To get people from one floor to the next, a spiral staircase stands surrounded by creative bookshelf design. It’s one of the most frequented area of the house where a bronze plaque is fixed to the floor as a reminder of when the house was built and completed.

The outlines of the couple’s hands and those of their children are inscribed on it. Small hand images indicate the family moved in when the kids were little.

Visiting house guests can tell right away the home is perfectly cozy without elaborate décor. But for the eight people who live here, it’s a special place made for living a simple life, one full of rest and room to pursue their dreams.

Architect: The Atelier of Architects Co., Ltd by Salyawate Prasertwitayakarn
Owner: Salyawate, Piyasuda Prasertwitayakarn

A Glimpse into the World of Rare Foliage Plants, Beautiful Garden by Bensley Design Studios

By livingasean
August 19, 2021
CULTURE,GARDEN,LIVING,PEOPLE

Bensley Design Studios is a design firm with many world-class hotels to its credit. Notable among these are the Four Seasons Tented Camp, the Four Seasons Koh Samui, the Kempinski Udaipur, the Siam, and the Indigo Pearl to name a few. Founded by Bill Bensley, who collabed with business partner Jirachai Rengthong, the firm has won acclaim for outstanding works in architecture, interior decoration, garden design and landscape development.

“Botanica Garden” is a nursery in Chiang Mai that’s home to hundreds of leaf plant species that Jirachai, an avid horticulturist, has cultivated over many years. It’s an oasis of beautifully maintained greenery that proves a perfect complement to the works of Bensley Design Studios. Some of the young plants grown here are offered for purchase at Kham Thiang Market, Chiang Mai’s largest botanical marketplace.

Bensley Design Studios, Botanica Garden, Beautiful Garden, Chiang Mai, Thailand — Sunlight gives bromeliad plants their bright color and beautiful form. Bromeliad requires direct sun for only half a day. In a nursery, mesh fabric capable of 50 to 60 percent protection will suffice.

For several decades Jirachai has nurtured and grown foliage plants and tropical species from across the globe at this nursery. He started out with varieties of bromeliad, cordyline or good luck plants, philodendron, aglaonema, anthurium, calathea, and agave before moving on to a detailed study in plant behavior and the breeding of plant specimens by natural processes.

As Jirachai put it, “Normally, after we buy unfamiliar species native to the equatorial climate zone, we try propagating them from the parent stock and observe how they respond to new environments. Every detail counts. Some species perform better in Chiang Mai producing brighter color leaves than they do in Bangkok. Interestingly, others fare badly when planted in the ground. Some species thrive in full sun, while others can tolerate partial shade. We also discover that cordyline or good luck plants perform better in soil than in organic coconut husk pieces. They don’t shed leaves when planted in soi, but they do when put in coconut husk.”

Offering an open view of the surrounding area, the nursery is canopied by black mesh fabric that gives protection from the sun. Plants that thrive in partial sun are grown here. They are safe in the hands of experienced gardeners.

“Propagation by air layering is a method that should be used in a bid to prevent plants from shedding leaves. Once roots have sufficiently developed, the stem can be cut from the parent plant and potted up. This allows the new plant to grow into naturally beautiful form. As for philodendron, coconut husk pieces are preferred over soil,” Jirachai explained. Apart from the propagation of plant species for decoration and sale, the nursery also specializes in cross breeding to produce desirable features in one offspring. Some young plants are so original and unique that they can fetch as much as a million baht.

“Caring for plants the right way, only Osmocoat fertilizer is added to soil once every three months, while 16-16-16 fertilizer is used once a month. As for bromeliad, ferns, and philodendron, Osmocoat alone will suffice. This fertilizer is effective in stimulating growth in potted plants. The same applies to ferns, but it should be diluted with water and given using sprayers.”

“Pests that attack these plants aren’t many. They include varieties of coccidae, or scale insects, and fungal infections that happen in the rainy season. Sprayed insecticides will likely stay long enough to have effect. Philodendron and anthurium can be raised as indoor houseplants. Give them just enough water and avoid being waterlogged. Place containers where it’s well ventilated. To protect against fungal infections, avoid moist or wet locations.”

That concludes our handy hints and a guide to leaf plant care. For more information, drop by Botanica Garden, or give them a visit at Kham Thiang Market next time you’re in Chiang Mai.

Story: Panchach
Photographs: Sitthisak

A Modern Tropical House Inspired by Cluster Homes of the Past

By livingasean
August 17, 2021
HOUSE,LIVING

/ Bangkok, Thailand /

/ Story: Sarayut / English version: Bob Pitakwong /

/ Photographs: Sitthisak Namkham / Styling: Worawat /

Like a journey back in time, here’s a modern Tropical house with the charm of bygone years. It’s a complete renovation project inspired by the cluster homes characteristic of traditional Thai ways of life. Built with the future in mind, the old family home is lovingly restored to answer the lifestyle needs of the three generations who live here. Plus, it blends into a beautiful lush green landscape.

Extended families have long been a pillar of Thai culture. Back in the day, when a couple joined in matrimony, traditionally it was the groom who moved into the home of the bride. As the family grew, it was time to build a new home nearby, usually on the same property.

Likewise, this add-on unit of construction is well suited to the purpose. The result is a building complex that contains separate houses where extended families live together independently of one another.

Prior to being renovated, the two-story home had stood on this 200-square-wah (800 sq. m.) plot of land for almost two decades. Rated structurally sound, it was capable of accomplishing further improvements. Hence, a complete remodeling project was undertaken so that three generations could live together and yet enjoy the privacy and comfort of home.

Extended family living offers several advantages, among them a close support structure and care for the wellbeing of all family members.

The redesigned home plan boasts a peaceful courtyard with swimming pool enclosed by the walls of a large L-shaped building. There’s a passageway that allows access between the two residential units on either side, while parts of the upper floors are reserved for future use.

The connected wings are interactive communities. In fact, they physically exist as two separate houses ready to change hands at some future time, which explains an empty space lying in between.

The ground floor of what was once the original family home now houses a reception area with a gym, dining room and small kitchen. The second floor is a private residential home with Mom and Dad’s bedroom and a sitting area conveniently linked with the other building.

The newly added extension comprises three all-inclusive residential units. Clearly separated from one another, they are accessible by a roofed platform along the outside of the house.

Although the homeowners have a deep affection for cluster homes built the old-fashioned way, it makes perfect sense to opt for new construction materials that are long-lasting and suitable for modern applications. They include building walls with aluminum stud framing and faux wood siding panels, which are more appropriate than real wood for air conditioning.

To protect the home from the dangers of extreme heat, exterior brick walls are decorated with engineered wood cladding products. And for a more natural look, clear protective finishes are preferred over paints, while aluminum trim provides additional decoration along the edges.

In the same way, doors and windows are made of aluminum that looks and feels like wood. Together they bring a beautiful design element to the project. Plus, aluminum is more durable and functional than real wood.

Overall, it’s an intriguing combination of the modern and the traditional – a modern Tropical house built of steel frames, timber and concrete construction. Together they enhance the home’s contemporary appeal, while the finishing and decoration is typical of Thai residential architecture.

More than anything else, it’s design that promotes social interactions among family members. While the children enjoy privacy in the comfort of their home, they have places to hang out together, shoot the breeze, exercise and share meals with Mom and Dad.

Plus, open concept floor plans offer many benefits. They keep the house well ventilated, help beat daily stress, and eliminate the need for air conditioning.

To get rid of food smells fast, the kitchen is at the furthest end, where Mom prepares both international dishes and authentic Thai recipes, especially the southern kind that only Mom knows best. All things considered, it’s mealtime socializing that’s the center of family life. It’s something they do together to stay connected.

Architect: Pipol Likanapaisal and Apichart Rojthoranin (Space Story Studio)

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Domestic Alternative Materials: a Revolution of the Imagination

By livingasean
July 13, 2021
IDEA,LIVING,MATERIAL

/ Bangkok, Thailand /

/ Story: Wuthikorn Sut / Photograph: THINKK Studio /

Taking a closer look at creative industries, we think you will agree that “materials” take priority over any other matter. Hence, a project codenamed “Domestic Alternative Materials” was born to research into the innovation, introduction, and improvement of new products needed for the manufacture of goods and articles. By creating products that are original and unique, it takes design to the next level and helps reduce waste as natural raw materials become scarce and hard to come by.

Domestic Alternative Materials is a nice little collab that turns everyday things into items of higher quality and value. These include empty seashells, crab shells, glass bottles, water hyacinth fibers, coconut husks, coconut shells, betel nut fibers, even fabric scraps from the garment factory.

It’s amazing how a little bit of imagination can give scraps and litters new life. Together, the team transform trash into new products that the industry needs, among them faux metal bars and imitation wood that can be used as alternative materials for furniture making and light fixtures.

Like the wake-up call to a growing menace to the environment, the project causes us to look back at the trail of garbage left behind by commercial and industrial activities.

Hence to reduce waste, it makes perfect sense to transform those otherwise useless objects into alternative materials that can be put to good use again and in more creative ways.

The works of Domestic Alternative Materials are on show as part of a greater event known as Bangkok Design Week 2021. It’s a show designed to create an awareness among the people, architects, designers and consumers about the need to reduce waste and conserve the environent.

Despite disruptions brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, it provides the opportunity to appreciate a revolution of the imagination that results in a stunning array of unconventional materials for the creative industries.

Project: thinkkstudio (www.thinkkstudio.com)

Goose Living From Row Houses to Charming Boutique Hotel

By livingasean
July 6, 2021
CULTURE,DESIGN

BANGKOK / Inspired by pleasant memories of New York’s Central Park, Sarapa Vejpattarasiri converted old row houses in a bustling neighborhood off of Sukhumvit into a boutique hotel and cafe that blended the pretty looks of Tropical motifs with Modern design. Aptly named “GOOSE Living”, the stylish midtown inn was a reflection of her learning and life experiences after graduating in culinary science from the Big Apple.

It’s been a journey. Sarapa came away impressed with a vision of wild geese naturally living free against the spectacular backdrop of New York City. Hence the two adjoining row houses that had been in her family for over four decades transformed into an intimate little hideaway in the middle of a vibrant urban district.

The hotel keeps firmly to its concept – “Living a goose life (if you will forgive the pun) is about living happy, wild and free”.

GOOSE Living offers the opportunity to experience the excitement of simple yet chic living spaces. It’s a flexible form of living involving a new and innovative style. Situated on a corner plot, the hotel’s ground floor that houses a resaturant and cafe looks out over two intersecting streets. The result is a beautiful open concept entrance hall that’s warm and welcoming.

A team of architects from SIM STUDIO undertook the renovation project. Together, they took the five-story row houses out of their humdrum existence turning them into an architectural landmark that clearly enlivens the city’s Phra Khanong neighborhood. Besides the small restaurant and cafe on the ground floor, the 900-sq-m hotel offers 20 rooms and a bar on the top floor. As can be expected of a boutique hotel, each room is decorated in the style and colors that reflect the distinctive character of the wild geese of New York. Plus, all the living spaces are flexible and capable of fulfilling several functions.

The ground floor contains the hotel front desk that conveniently connects to a small restaurent and café. The interior space is divided without going full-wall, but by using different building materials from one room to the next. This applies to everything from floors to walls to ceilings. The focus of attention is the use of vertical design on the walls to imitate scenic views of trees in the forest.

To reduce the harshness of the texture of building materials, curving contours are integrated in the overall interior design. They range from curved furniture design to modular chairs that neatly wrap around dining tables. Besides increasing aesthetic appeal, mirror ceiling decor adds an exciting new dimension to the loft space that houses a restaurant and café. The restaurant itself is renowned for its menu with an Asian twist.

The erstwhile terraced houses come with design limitations, and hence two kinds of guest rooms – ones with a city view and ones without. The rooms with a view are positioned along the exterior wall. Those that stand as part of a continuous row have no access to natural light. To compensate for the shortcomings, the architects put a skylight in the roof that transforms all the back rooms with daylight and fresh air all the way from the fifth down to the second floor.

From the outside looking in, the hotel stands wrapped in a protective layer crafted of steel box tubing. The rigid structure characterized by regular lines and shapes forms a geometric design that’s easily understood. It doubles as privacy screens that make the covered area more peaceful and quiet in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the city.

Location: GOOSE Living
3/6-7 Sukhumvit 71, Phra Khanong Nua, Wattana District, Bangkok
Tel. +6686 978 6232
FB: Gooseliving
IG: Gooseliving
LINE: @Gooseliving

Owner: Sarapa Vejpattarasiri
Photo: PanoramicStudio
Design: SIM STUDIO
Story: Wannaleela

A Wooden House amid the Enchantment of Lush Coconut Groves

By livingasean
June 30, 2021
HOUSE,LIVING

/ Ratchaburi, Thailand /

/ Story: Patsiri / English version: Bob Pitakwong /

/ Photographs: Soopakorn Srisakul / Styling: Worawat /

This wooden house among the trees is literally a breath of fresh air. It’s situated in Damnoen Saduak, a district of Ratchaburi made famous by abundant fruit farms and a vibrant river market. Here, the secrets to peaceful, comfortable living lies in a healthy ecosystem that provides a respite from the hustle and bustle of the city. Reclaimed timber adapted for new use gives it a rustic feel. The house is built mostly of old wood recycled from much older homes. It stands canopied by overhanging trees alongside water channels for crop irrigation. Together they act as engine that drives natural ventilation keeping the home nice and cool all year round. With a house like this, who needs air conditioning?

Since its heyday in the mid-1900s, the Damnoen Saduak Canal has served as a major route for water transport in this part of Ratchaburi. Traditionally, wooden homes were built mostly at the water’s edge, while properties lying further inland were used for agriculture.

This 7-Rai piece of land (a little shy of 3 acres) has been home to thriving fruit orchards for several decades. The wooden house now in the hands of the family’s fourth generation was recently restored to all its former glory. In the process, small portions of the water channels were filled in to make room for a new contemporary home.

Originally, the family had planned to turn it into a small one-bedroom home. But after a consult with the architectural firm Studio Miti, they were convinced that house-on-stilts design, something slightly bigger, was the only way forward.

The decision in favor of a stilt home was a prudent thing to do since the area has experienced flooding in the past. By using tall timber posts and beams, they were able to create a 112-square-meter home plan with double height ceilings.

The hardwood floor is elevated on concrete poles for stability and good ventilation in the lower space under the house. At the same time, weathered wood adds the rough texture and rustic feel to the overall superstructure.

This is especially true for the external envelope built of a captivating mix of reclaimed timber. The list includes Praduak (scientific name: Pterocarpus soyauxii) which is preferred for its bright reddish orange color, Mai Daeng or Ironwood (Xylia xylocarpa), and Mai Yang (Dipterocarpus alatus), which is light brown in color.

Nothing goes to waste. Where appropriate, shorter wall planks are used to add warmth and charm to interior living spaces.

Taken as a whole, it’s an open-concept house plan that’s just right for a small family’s lifestyle needs. The home is parred down and simple with no unnecessary features.

There is no guest reception area in the true sense of Western residential design. Instead, what is lacking is compensated for by a roomy communal space with a good-sized wooden table in the middle of the room. It fulfills multiple functions as a living room, dining room and space for relaxation and interactions within the family.

For practical reasons, the kitchen formerly at the rear of the house has been moved to the open lower floor that’s made suitable for traditional Thai cooking. It’s an easy hack to get rid of food smells fast.

Only a pantry with necessary food, dishes and utensils are kept upstairs, where the focus is more on making light meals, coffee and other beverages. It’s separated from the living area by roll-away partitions that can open to circulate air when needed.

The wooden house has two bedrooms made especially relaxing by a monochromatic color scheme. A nexus between old-world charm and a calm, clutter-free life, each room has a mattress on a wooden platform canopied by a fine net to keep mosquitoes away. They are so well-ventilated that there’s no need for air conditioning.

Wood offers many benefits as a building material. It doesn’t reflect or store heat very well, which results in hardwood floors not getting much hot in summer. This makes it comfortable to spend daylight hours in the shady space on the ground floor.

When evening comes, a gentle wind helps cool the home down even further. Otherwise, simple fans will do the trick. Outside, a canopy of overhanging trees and water channels make the home environment calm and peaceful. Come rain or come shine, roof eaves with extended overhangs protect the interior from the elements.

Bottom line. It’s a design that make economic sense. As timber prices continue on the rise, the cost of building a home also increases at an alarming rate. Here, though, the architect is able to overcome the limited budget and deliver on his promise.

The result is a contemporary design that relates to its intended function and purpose — an intimate little wooden house amid the enchantment of lush coconut groves.

Owner: Veerapus and Nuthapak Thamrongrojanabhat

Architect: Studio Miti

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Behind the Success of Café Business in Thailand: An Interview with Suparat Chinathaworn, Founder of party / space / design

By livingasean
June 25, 2021
CULTURE,DESIGN,PEOPLE

BANGKOK / It’s fair to say that, without considering disruptions brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, café and restaurant businesses had ranked with fast-growing industries in Thailand. They could survive the tough competition from established and new players in the marketplace. Besides good food and drinks, design has played a crucial role in business. By knowing their market niche and formulating a unique business plan, they were able to attract more consumer love to their brands.

party / space / design, or p / s / d for short, is a design studio behind the sweet smell of success of leading café and restaurants in Thailand. Led by Suparat Chinathaworn, founder and CEO, the company has drawn on years of experience in business and design in creating restaurant spaces that are not only different, but also exceptionally good. It was a pleasure to have interviewed Suparat Chinathaworn. And here are his views, goals, and experience over the past ten years.

Q: What is it that’s inspired p / s / d to make a difference?

A: “Within the past two years we have focused on making hands-on practice available to our colleagues. USB Café is in fact a Coffee Lab and training grounds where baristas exercise and perfect their skill from actually doing it instead of reading about it or seeing it being done. It’s about doing real work under real pressure and be able to meet consumer needs. We aren’t just designers. We must strive to produce outcomes that are different from everything else on the market.”

USB Café, the coffee room that’s part of the p / s / d office space, is used for smart business experiments. Test results provide the basis for a good working environment.

Q: Opening a shop isn’t the finish line, but the beginning of growth. Can you elaborate on that?

A: “I believe that consumer behavior is a very important thing you need to know in running a business. It’s a relationship based on mutual understanding. After a shop is opened, I always ask my clients if everything is going well. It’s a way to find out if the model that we’ve designed is working or not. Often we will choose a business plan that’s doable within their powers. This means that the clients have a pretty good understanding of how a restaurant works. Plus, they love doing it and are ready to give their time and resources to it. A start-up isn’t the finish line, only the beginning. They have to think long-term.”

Q: Beyond design, it’s experience. What’s your thought on that?

A: “Restaurants and cafés are public spaces. So we have to make them special or otherwise different from the place where one lives. We have to make sure that people come away impressed with what they’ve experienced and want to come back. We don’t just focus on design. Instead, we pay particular attention to the kind of experience that people get. It’s comparable to movie making, in which stories are told through a series of film footage of various events that have taken place. We’re like the movie producer who has to envisage the entirety of future events – everything from people arriving to entering by the front door, from making orders to drinking, taking photos, and checking things out on social media. You name it. We look thoughtfully at it in order to ensure a pleasant experience for everyone.”

Q: What do you mean by younger yet more in-depth?

A: “Ten years had passed since we opened our office. And we felt like kids again. We went back to playing toys and enjoyed having fun. Meanwhile, we’re spending a lot of time deep in our thoughts. We’ve come to appreciate of the atmosphere of a place that’s the quintessence of Thainess. We’ve found the right balance between business owners and the general public. Our design isn’t about just being cool. Rather, it’s the quality of forming a pleasing environment and a space that’s different, unique, and easily understood.”

Q: How do you see p / s / d ten years from now?

A: “Now we’re interested in the concept of Specialty Coffee. People say it’s a stage in the learning process of how to effectively run a restaurant business. It’s like climbing a three-step staircase, starting with Specialty Coffee before moving on to Hidden Bar, and Fine Dining. We expect the latter options will follow in the next ten years. For the future the focus of attention may switch from restaurants and cafés to consulting business. I have fun doing analyses for the purpose of presenting new ideas and new experience to people. It’s something I always enjoy doing.”

Q: In your view, what does the future look like for restaurant business?

A: “In the big picture, the food and beverage industry is growing at a fast pace. Eating and drinking is the reality of life that cannot be replaced by online activities. It’s like living in two worlds where we cannot have one without the other. Thais in general treat eating and drinking as being very important and deserving attention. Many actually enjoy restaurant hopping to try out new items on the menu. It’s not about telling good restaurants apart from bad ones. Rather, it’s about discerning differences among them. Some places are preferred for their pleasant atmosphere that’s attractive in photographs, while others may be famous for good food and friendly people. This has resulted in us having to keep abreast of changes to be able to design an “experience space” that finds the right balance. All things considered, it’s an on-going development.”

Find out more about p / s / d at: www.partyspacedesign.com

Contact info:
party / space / design
34 Thonglor 20 (Chamchan) Room 23A-26A,
Sukhumvit 55, North-Klongton, Wattana,
Bangkok 10110 Thailand
Email: info@partyspacedesign.com
Story: Wuthikorn Sut
Photographs: Anupong

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